Systems and methods for swab transport in pipeline rehabilitation

ABSTRACT

A method for transporting a swab through a pipeline, or through an insert within a pipeline, according to he present invention may include coupling a swab launcher to the pipeline, the swab launcher having a launch chamber with a first inner large enough to receive a swab when the swab is substantially uncompressed and a narrowing portion configured to compress the swab to fit within the pipeline, inserting the swab into the launch chamber, pressurizing the launch chamber with a compressed fluid behind the swab, and advancing the swab with the compressed fluid through the narrowing portion and into the pipeline.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/823,085, filed on Aug. 21, 2006, and entitled,“Systems and Methods for Pipeline Rehabilitation,” which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to rehabilitationof pipelines, and more specifically to improved swab insertion andtransport in pipeline rehabilitation.

BACKGROUND

After time, pipelines often suffer from corrosion of the inner diameterand/or minor cracking and/or leakage. Such pipelines must often bereplaced or rehabilitated. Replacement often involves the movement ordestruction of above-ground structures, such as roadways or sidewalks.Rehabilitation, on the other hand, may permit a new inner diameter ofthe pipe to be created using the existing pipeline as an outer shell,which may eliminate the need to dig up large sections of existingpipeline and/or water mains, and which may involve significant costsavings over replacement.

One form of pipeline rehabilitation involves the installation of atubular liner inside of a host pipe with hardenable cement mortar(formed from grout) between the tubular liner and the host pipe.However, swabs used to distribute grout between the liner and thepipeline are often difficult to insert into the liner by hand andwithout damaging the liner. Reducing the size of the swab for easierinsertion often means little or no radial pressure of the swab againstthe liner.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of methods for transporting a swab through a pipelineinclude coupling a swab launcher to a pipeline, the swab launcher havinga launch chamber with a first inner diameter large enough to receive aswab when the swab is substantially uncompressed and a narrowing portionconfigured to compress the swab to fit within the pipeline, insertingthe swab into the launch chamber, pressurizing the launch chamber with acompressed fluid behind the swab, and advancing the swab with thecompressed fluid through the narrowing portion and into the pipeline.Such embodiments of methods may further include inserting a tubularliner along an inside of the pipeline, such that advancing the swab intothe pipeline comprises advancing the swab into the tubular liner in thepipeline. Such embodiments of methods may also include inserting asecond swab into a second end of the pipeline, the second swabcomprising an axial aperture.

A visual indication may be provided to signal that the first swab hastraveled from the first end to the second end of the pipeline; in somecases, visually indicating when the first swab has traveled from thefirst end to the second end of the pipeline includes placing a stickthrough the axial aperture such that the first swab displaces the stickas the first swab approaches the second swab.

Embodiments of a swab launcher include a pipeline end configured forcoupling to a pipeline, an insertion end configured to receive a swab, alaunch chamber at the insertion end, the launch chamber having a firstinner diameter large enough to receive the swab when the swab issubstantially uncompressed, and a narrowing portion between the launchchamber and the pipeline end, the narrowing portion having a secondinner diameter decreasing between the launch chamber and the pipelineend, the second inner diameter at the launch chamber substantially thesame as the first inner diameter and the second inner diameter at thepipeline end substantially the same as a third inner diameter of thepipeline, where the first inner diameter is larger than the third innerdiameter. According to some embodiments, the second inner diameterdecreases between the launch chamber and the pipeline end in asubstantially linear fashion. Embodiments of the swab launcher may alsoinclude an end plate operable to cover and hermetically seal with theinsertion end, and a compressed fluid inlet formed in the end plate. Thelaunch chamber and the narrowing portion may be formed integrally of acontinuous piece of metal, and the launch chamber may be approximatelytwice as long as the narrowing portion. The first inner diameter may beapproximately twenty-five millimeters larger than the third innerdiameter.

Embodiments of systems for swab transport include a swab constructedsubstantially of foam, the swab configured to apply a radial pressure toa pipeline when the swab is compressed within the pipeline, and a swablauncher having a pipeline end configured for coupling to the pipeline,an insertion end configured to receive the swab, a launch chamber at theinsertion end, the launch chamber having a first inner diameter largeenough to receive the swab when the swab is substantially uncompressed,and a narrowing portion having a second inner diameter decreasingbetween the launch chamber and the pipeline end, the second innerdiameter at the launch chamber substantially the same as the first innerdiameter and the second inner diameter at the pipeline end substantiallythe same as a third inner diameter of the pipeline, and wherein thefirst inner diameter is larger than the third inner diameter. Suchembodiments of systems may further include an end plate operable tocover and hermetically seal with the insertion end, and a compressedfluid inlet formed in the end plate. A swab catcher may be coupled tothe pipeline, the swab catcher having a back wall operable to halt theswab as the swab exits the pipeline and a removal aperture for removalof the swab from the swab catcher.

A launch box may be coupled with the swab launcher, the launch boxincluding an insertion chamber large enough to enclose the swab when theswab is substantially uncompressed, an insertion opening through whichthe swab is inserted into the insertion chamber, and a door movablebetween an open position permitting insertion of the swab into theinsertion chamber and a closed position in which the door substantiallyhermetically seals the insertion opening. In some cases, the door opensinwardly into the insertion chamber and is biased in the closedposition. In other cases, the door opens inwardly into the insertionchamber, and pressurizing the insertion chamber substantially maintainsthe door in the closed position when the door is closed. Alternatively,the launch chamber of the swab launcher may itself include an insertionopening configured to receive the swab into the launch chamber, and adoor movable between an open position permitting insertion of the swabthrough the insertion opening into the launch chamber and a closedposition in which the door substantially hermetically seals theinsertion opening. In such cases, the door may open inwardly into thelaunch chamber and be biased in the closed position; the door may alsobe substantially maintained in a closed position by pressurizing of thelaunch chamber.

While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments of thepresent invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art fromthe following detailed description, which shows and describesillustrative embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, the drawings anddetailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature andnot restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a side cross sectional view of a front end system forpipe rehabilitation, according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side cross sectional view of a front end systemdepicting a swab launcher according to embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a front cross sectional view of a pipe taken alongline A-A of FIG. 1, depicting a pipe liner in a deflated state for groutdeployment, according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a front cross sectional view of a pipe taken alongline A-A of FIG. 1, depicting a pipe liner in a finished state afteraffixation of the liner to the pipe, according to embodiments of thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a side cross sectional view of a back end system forpipe rehabilitation, according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a side cross sectional view of a back end systemhaving a liner tensioning device according to embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 7 illustrates a front elevation view of the back end system of FIG.6, according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates a method for rehabilitating a pipeline, such as awater main, according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 9 illustrates another method for rehabilitating a pipeline, such asa water main, according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 10 illustrates a method for grout coverage inspection, according toembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 11 illustrates another method for grout coverage inspection,according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 12 illustrates a system for grout coverage inspection, according toembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 13 illustrates a camera frame for a system for grout coverageinspection, according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 14 illustrates a linkage between a swab and a camera frame for asystem for grout coverage inspection, according to embodiments of thepresent invention.

FIG. 15 illustrates a side cross sectional view of a front end systemdepicting a swab launch box and swab launcher according to embodimentsof the present invention.

FIG. 16 illustrates a side cross sectional view of a pipeline and linerwith a rounding swab and a back pressure swab, according to embodimentsof the present invention.

FIG. 17 illustrates a grout injection manifold, swab launcher, and endplate assembly according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 18 illustrates a swab with a plastic wrapper, according toembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 19 illustrates a swab, according to embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 20 illustrates a back pressure device, according to embodiments ofthe present invention.

FIG. 21 illustrates an alternative back pressure device, according toembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 22 illustrates a liner folder, according to embodiments of thepresent invention.

FIG. 23 illustrates an alternative liner folder, according toembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 24 illustrates a top perspective view of a back end systemincluding a tensioning device, according to embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 25 illustrates an exemplary image from an infrared camera duringgrout coverage inspection, according to embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 26 illustrates a catcher bin according to embodiments of thepresent invention.

While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternativeforms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in thedrawings and are described in detail below. The intention, however, isnot to limit the invention to the particular embodiments described. Onthe contrary, the invention is intended to cover all modifications,equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the inventionas defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present invention relate to improvements in therehabilitation of fluid-bearing pipelines such as, for example, watermains. FIG. 1 illustrates a side cross sectional view of a front endsystem for pipe rehabilitation, according to embodiments of the presentinvention. According to embodiments of the present invention, a pipe 100may be rehabilitated by inserting a liner 110 therethrough, andcementing the liner 100 to an inside diameter 103 of pipe 100 withgrout. Liner 110 may be, for example, a liner with grout hooks asdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,167,913, issued on Jan. 2, 2001, andentitled “Pipe Liner, a Liner Product and Methods for Forming andInstalling the Liner,” which is incorporated by reference herein for allpurposes. Liner 110 may be formed of an extruded medium-densitypolyethylene material or other polymer or polymer-like material; forexample, liner 110 may be formed from a sheet of material created byVelcro® Europe S.A. According to some embodiments of the presentinvention, liner 110 conforms to ASTM—D1248: Type 11, Class B, Category5 standards, and based upon ISO classifications, may be classified asPE-80 or PE-100 material. According to some embodiments of the presentinvention, liner 110 is substantially resistant to ultraviolet radiationand is designed for potable water applications.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, liner 110 has atensile strength at breakage of approximately 30 Mpa, an elongation atbreakage of approximately 1,100%, a flexural modulus of approximately700 Mpa, a hardness of approximately 60 Shore D, a Vicat softening pointof approximately 126° Celsius, a density at twenty-three degrees Celsiusof approximately 942 kilograms per cubic meter, a weight ofapproximately 450 kilograms per square meter (plus or minus fifty gramsper square meter), and a hook concentration of approximately twenty persquare centimeter (plus or minus ten percent).

As shown in FIG. 4, the sheet of material may then be formed into a tubeshape and welded to itself, to form a tube-shaped liner 110 with grouthooks 406 on an outer surface 404 and a smooth inner surface 402. Theseam (not shown) created by welding the sheet of material into a tubeshape may be located on the inner surface 402 or the outer surface 404;alternatively, the liner 110 may be formed and/or welded such that aseam neither protrudes from inner surface 402 nor from outer surface404.

Pipe 100 has a front end 101 and a back end 502. Once liner 110 has beenplaced continuously through pipe 100 from front end 101 to back end 502,liner 110 may be attached to structures at each end to prevent the liner110 from slipping back into pipe 100, and for stretching and/ortensioning liner 110 within pipe 100. For example, a liner clamp 106 maybe used at each end 101, 502 to secure the liner 110. Liner clamp 106may include a clamp base 105 having a tubular neck 107 over which liner110 may be inserted, according to embodiments of the present invention.Once liner 110 has been inserted over tubular neck 107, cuff 104 may beplaced over liner 110 and tubular neck 107 and bolted or otherwiseconnected with clamp base 105 to form a pressure fit with clamp base105. Such a configuration squeezes liner 110 between base 105 and cuff104; according to some embodiments of the present invention, tubularneck 107 may include an angled portion 109 configured to mate with asimilarly-angled portion of cuff 104 to further emphasize the pressurefit between base 105 and cuff 104.

Various stages of liner 110 installation may involve the insertion andremoval of objects and/or fluids into liner 110; liner clamp 106 mayfacilitate the insertion and/or removal of objects and/or fluids (e.g.air) from within liner 110, while minimizing the potential for tearing,crumpling, folding, or otherwise damaging the ends of liner 110. Thisquality is further enhanced by the presence of tubular neck 107 to easeinsertion of objects into liner 110 near front end 101. Similarly, aliner clamp 106 may be used near back end 502 (see FIG. 5, for example).

According to some embodiments of the present invention, liner 110 may befolded flat and wound into a spool prior to deployment through pipe 100.Liner 110 is preferably deployed within pipe 100 in a fashion whichminimizes twisting of liner 110 within pipe 100. One way in whichtwisting of liner 110 may be minimized during deployment through pipe100 constitutes imparting a V-shape or bend longitudinally in liner 110as it enters pipe 110. Such V-shape or longitudinal bend (see FIG. 3 forexample) also encourages effective grout coverage of the top portions ofthe liner 110. Such a shape may be imparted to liner 110 as liner 110 isinserted into pipe 100 manually, by shaping the liner 110 with one'shands, or via use of a specially designed frame as depicted in FIGS. 22and 23.

A swab 504 may be used for initial deployment and proper placement ofliner 110. One example of a swab 504 is depicted in FIG. 5; otherexamples of swabs 1802, 1901 are depicted in FIGS. 18 and 19. Accordingto embodiments of the present invention, swab 504 is a slightlydeformable plug-type device which fills an inside diameter 103 of pipe100 and/or inside diameter 402 of liner 110, thereby applying a radialforce to such inside diameter 103 and/or 402. For example, swab 504 maybe constructed with a stiff foam, and may be sized so as to fit withinpipe 100 and/or liner 110 only upon contraction and/or compression ofouter diameter 506 of swab 504. Swab 504 may be moved along pipe 100and/or liner 110 by applying a force to one side of swab 504; such forcemay be applied, for example, by applying an air or water pressure to oneside of swab 504, where swab 504 forms a substantially hermetic sealwith inner diameter 103 and/or inner diameter 402.

Prior to initial deployment of liner 110 through pipe 100, a swab 504may be run through pipe 100 from front end 101 to back end 502. This maybe achieved by pumping compressed air into pipe 100 behind swab 504.This may accomplish two results: first, swab 504 can be configured toclean inner diameter 103 in preparation for the pipeline rehabilitation;second, swab 504 may be attached to a string, rope, cord, or cablewhich, once it extends the length of pipe 100, may be used to pull liner110 from front end 101 to back end 502. In addition, once liner 110 hasbeen initially deployed within length of pipe 100, swab 504 may be runthrough liner 110 in order to remove any debris from inside 402 of liner110 and to straighten liner 110 within pipe and remove any twisting ofliner 110 within pipe 100. A swab 504 may also be referred to as a“pig;” alternatively, a swab 504 may be used for initial deployment of aliner 110, while a pig 504 having a different configuration may be usedfor the later step of smoothing the liner 110 against the grout andagainst inside 103 of pipe 100.

Prior to attachment of liner 110 to liner clamp 106, a pipe interfaceflange 112 may be coupled to front end 101 of pipe 100. Pipe interfaceflange 112 may serve to protect front end 101 of pipe 100 and permitadditional hardware to be attached to pipe 100. A grout injectionmanifold 102 may then be coupled to pipe 100 via interface flange 112.Grout injection manifold 102 permits grout to be injected through groutinjection port 114 into the space between liner 110 and pipe 100 priorto smoothing of the liner 110 against pipe 100 by swab 504. Once groutinjection manifold 102 has been coupled with interface flange 112, liner110 may then be clamped between cuff 104 and base 105 of liner clamp106, and liner clamp 106 may be coupled with grout injection manifold102, as illustrated in FIG. 1 according to embodiments of the presentinvention.

As used herein, the term “coupled” is used in its broadest sense torefer to elements which are connected, attached, and/or engaged, eitherdirectly or integrally or indirectly via other elements, and eitherpermanently, temporarily, or removably. For example, one way in whichswab launcher 108 may be coupled to liner clamp 106 would be to placebolts through corresponding holes in a flange in swab launcher 108 andin liner clamp 106 and tighten the bolts. According to some embodiments,the bolts may be tightened until a hermetic or quasi-hermetic seal isformed. Such a hermetic seal may also be formed by inserting an O-ringbetween swab launcher 108 and liner clamp 106 prior to bolting themtogether. Based on the disclosure provided herein, one of ordinary skillin the art will recognize the various ways in which pipe-like elementsmay be coupled together to achieve the pipeline rehabilitation methodsdescribed herein.

FIG. 2 illustrates a swab launcher 108 according to embodiments of thepresent invention. Swab launcher 108 may be coupled with liner clamp106. Swab launcher 108 includes a narrowing portion 202 and a straightportion 204, the straight portion enclosing a launch chamber 206. Swablauncher 108 is configured to compress a swab 504 from an outer diameter506 corresponding to inner diameter 220 of swab launcher 108, to anouter diameter 506 corresponding to inner diameter 212 near the back endof swab launcher 108. According to embodiments of the present invention,swab 504 may be placed into launch chamber 206, and an end plate 208 maybe coupled with swab launcher 108. Compressed air (or other fluid) maybe fed into swab launcher 108 via inlet 210 in order to compress swab504 into narrowing portion 202 and then “launch” the swab 504 throughtubular neck portion 107 and into liner 110.

According to embodiments of the present invention, an air pressure ofapproximately five to seven pounds per square inch sets swab 504 inmotion through swab launcher 108, and an air pressure of approximatelytwo to three pounds per square inch maintains a steady motion of swab504 through liner 110 from front end 101 to back end 502 after swab 504has cleared swab launcher 108. According to some embodiments of thepresent invention, the air pressure supplied through inlet 210 does notexceed ten pounds per square inch. FIG. 17 illustrates a frontperspective view of an assembled grout injection manifold 102, swablauncher 108, and end plate 208 with fitting 210, according toembodiments of the present invention.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, the length ofstraight portion 204/launch chamber 206 is twice the length of narrowingportion 202. According to some embodiments of the present invention, theinner diameter 220 of launch chamber 206 is substantially equal to thediameter of the pipeline 100 being rehabilitated for pipelines 100 ofapproximately 100 mm in diameter to 300 mm in diameter, while the innerdiameter 212 near the front end the swab launcher 108 is approximatelytwenty-five millimeters less than the corresponding launch chamber 206diameter 220. According to some embodiments of the present invention,the length of straight portion 204/launch chamber 206 is approximatelyequal to two and one-half times the diameter of the pipe 100 beingrehabilitated.

FIG. 5 illustrates a back end system for halting the progression of swab504. According to some embodiments of the present invention, swab 504 ispermitted to simply exit liner 110 at back end 502; however, in suchcases a greater chance of tearing or damaging liner 110 at back end 502has been observed, because swab 504 may have a tendency to exit and/orexpand rapidly upon exiting back end 502 in a manner that may not easilybe controlled. However, according to some embodiments of the presentinvention, a back pressure device 508 may be lodged within liner 110near back end 502 to halt the advancement of swab 504 within liner 110.Back pressure device 508 may resemble a swab 504, for example, exceptback pressure device 508 includes an inner tube 510 according toembodiments of the present invention. Inner tube 510 permits air orother fluid displaced by swab 504 to be pushed through inner tube 510and out of outlet 522. End plate 524 may resemble end plate 208 of FIG.2, for example.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, back pressuredevice 508 serves to maintain back pressure between the liner 110 andpipeline 100 to encourage full grout distribution, especially at backend 502. Back pressure device may be made from a soft, two pound densityswab through the middle of which runs an equivalent length of two-inchdiameter PVC pipe (which may also be referred to as a core hole), forexample. FIG. 20 depicts a back pressure device 2001 which includes afoam swab portion 2004, a core hole pipe 2006, and a handle 2002 tofacilitate insertion and/or removal of back pressure device 2001 intoand/or out of liner clamp 106 at near back end 502, according toembodiments of the present invention. FIG. 21 depicts a plastic sleeve2102 which may also be used as a back pressure device 2102 for insertionthrough liner clamp 106 near back end 502, according to embodiments ofthe present invention.

Once front 516 of swab 504 makes contact with back pressure device 508,swab 504 is halted because the pressure supplied through inlet 210 is nolonger enough to overcome the additional friction between an outerdiameter of back pressure device 208 and inner diameter 402 of liner110. Alternatively, back pressure device 508 may make contact with linerclamp 106, end plate 524, or other stopping mechanism near back end 502which may halt or prevent progression of back pressure device 508 andthus swab 504 according to embodiments of the present invention.According to some embodiments of the present invention, back pressuredevice 508 includes a handle 2002 which permits a person, upon removalof end plate 524, to reach through liner clamp 106 and/or liner 110, andpull back pressure device 508 out of liner 110. As an additionalalternative embodiment, a plastic cylinder 2102 may be used on theinside 402 of liner 110 to halt swab 504. According to some embodimentsof the present invention, an outer area 518 of liner 110 between backend 502 and liner clamp 106 may be wrapped with a felt, or apolyethylene-backed or polyester felt, to further reinforce liner 110 atan area 518 which may be more susceptible to tearing during theinstallation of liner 110. According to some embodiments, such afelt-based liner interfaces well with grout hooks 406 on outer surface404 of liner 110 in a hook-and-loop type fashion. FIG. 24 depicts a backend system and illustrates how an anti-split sleeve 2402 (e.g. a feltliner) may be wrapped around liner 110 to protect the unsupported liner110 which extends from back end 502 from damage when the swab 504emerges from the liner 110, according to embodiments of the presentinvention.

An indicator stick 512 may also be employed to visually indicate whenswab 504 has reached its final position near back end 502, according toembodiments of the present invention. Indicator stick 512 may initiallyextend through inner tube 510, protruding from back pressure device 508on one end 514 and resting within outlet 522 on another end 520. As swab504 nears its end position, front 516 of swab 504 contacts end 514 ofindicator stick 512, pushing end 520 of indicator stick 512 out throughoutlet 522. Once the end 520 of indicator stick 512 is seen protrudingfrom outlet 522, it is known that swab 504 has reached its finalposition. At such point in time, after swab 504 has traveled the lengthof pipe 100 and liner 110 has been smoothed against inside 103 of pipewith the grout therebetween, it is desirable to permit the grout to curewhile liner 110 is in a pressurized state. In order to minimize pressureloss after swab 504 has reached its final position, indicator stick 512may be removed and outlet 522 may be capped while the grout cures.According to some embodiments of the present invention, swab 504 and/orback pressure device 508 are left in place during the grout curingphase. According to other embodiments of the present invention, swab 504includes a transmitter and/or transceiver which permits tracking of thelocation of the swab 504 from above-ground or from outside of pipe 100with a paired receiver and/or transceiver. According to otherembodiments of the present invention, a foot meter may be used tomeasure the length of deployment of swab 504 within pipe 100; forexample, the cord on the foot meter may be tied or otherwise attached tothe swab 504, and the foot meter may measure how far the swab 504travels, according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIGS. 6 and 7 depict a liner tensioning device 600 used at back end 502of pipe 100 in order to maintain a tension on liner 110 during groutdeployment, and/or grout smoothing/installation. Near front end 101,liner 110 is secured by liner clamp 106 (see FIG. 1), which holds thatend of liner clamp 106 in place on grout injection manifold 102 whileliner 110 near back end 502 is permitted to move longitudinally withrespect to pipe 100. Liner 110 near back end 502 is also secured byanother liner clamp 106 (see FIG. 6). According to embodiments of thepresent invention, liner tensioning device 600 includes a crossbar 608coupled (via chains 606, for example) with liner clamp 106 and coupledalso (via a chain 610, for example) with pneumatic cylinder 612.Pneumatic cylinder 612 is configured to apply a force toward canister614 upon application of pressurized air to canister 614, thereby pullingcrossbar 608, liner clamp 106, and thus liner 110 into tension.

Liner tensioning device 600 not only holds liner 110 in tension withrespect to the pipe 100, but it also removes slack in liner 110 whichextends from the back end 502. Without such slack removal and tension,liner 110 would be susceptible to being drawn into the pipe 100 andpinned, and travel of the swab 504 would cause the liner 110 to “bunchup” at this point, which may restrict movement of the swab 504 and/orrip or otherwise damage liner 110. Liner tensioning device 600 may alsoinclude an anti-twist mechanism; for example, the coupling between chain610 and crossbar 608 may include a rotating and/or swiveling connectionto permit liner 110 to untwist as it is held in tension, according toembodiments of the present invention.

Canister 614 is held in place with respect to pipe 100 via a couplingwith plate 620, which is coupled with radial supports 618, which arecoupled with longitudinal support 602, which are coupled with aninterface flange 112 similar to interface flange 112 of FIG. 1, which isin turn coupled with pipe 100, according to embodiments of the presentinvention. According to embodiments of the present invention,longitudinal supports 602 are adjustable in length to accommodatedifferent configurations and lengths of liner 110 and/or other hardwareprotruding from back end 502. According to yet other embodiments of thepresent invention, radial supports 618 are adjustable in length toaccommodate pipes 100 of different diameters; for example, radialsupports 618 may be adjustable at joints 616 by sliding an inner barinto and out of an outer sheath bar. According to alternativeembodiments of the present invention, devices other than the canister614/pneumatic cylinder 612 may be employed to provide the tensioningforce; for example, a spring or other spring-like device, or a screwtensioning device such as a wingnut on a threaded bolt setup, may beused to maintain tension on liner 110. FIG. 24 depicts a linertensioning device having a wingnut on a threaded bolt setup, accordingto embodiments of the present invention. Based on the disclosureprovided herein, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize thevarious hardware configurations that may be used to create tension onliner 110 by pulling liner clamp 106 in a direction away from pipe 100.

Once liner 110 has been extended through pipe 100 and attached to linerclamps 106 at both ends, outlet 522 may be capped and/or plugged, and avacuum may be applied to inlet 210. This vacuum serves to pull the fluid(such as air) out of liner 110, deflating the liner 110. The liner pullsin on itself, forming a V-shape or U-shape cross section within pipe100. According to some embodiments of the present invention, an airejector may be connected to inlet 210 of end plate 208 or inlet 522 ofend plate 524, and may be used to draw a partial vacuum inside liner110, causing liner 110 to collapse onto itself to form the desiredgutter or trough configuration. The tension on the liner 110 may bereleased and/or relieved to permit the collapse of liner 110 duringdeflation, and then re-applied for grouting.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, instead of a capor plug, a vacuum gauge may be applied to outlet 522 to indicate whenthe vacuum has reached back end 502 and deflated the full length ofliner 110. This step of drawing a vacuum on liner 110 during groutinjection has been found to improve grout coverage around the fullcircumference of liner 110, particularly at the uppermost sections ofliner 110. This is because when grout is injected between liner 110 andpipe 100 when liner 110 is not deflated, the grout may tend to fall tothe sides and bottom of pipe 100 upon injection, leaving a thinner layerof grout or no grout for the top and uppermost portions of liner 110,according to embodiments of the present invention.

However, when a vacuum is applied to liner 110 during grout injection,the flattened liner 110 tends to assume and/or maintain a V-shape orU-shape, especially when grout is injected over the center of liner 110.Such a cross-sectional V-shape may further by promoted by the way inwhich the liner 110 is initially deployed into pipe 100; for example,the liner folders of FIGS. 22 and 23 impart a V-shape to liner 110during deployment of liner 110 into pipe 100. The liner 110 thus createsa trough through which grout may flow into pipe 100, thereby promotingbetter grout coverage between upper portions of liner 110 and pipe 100.Such a trough further hinders the grout from falling to the sides andbottom of pipe, until swab 504 passes through liner 110, thereby pushingliner 110 against all sides of pipe 100 and evenly distributing thegrout. According to some embodiments of the present invention, a vacuummay be applied to the area between liner 110 and pipe 100 to furtherpromote the flow of grout from front end 101 to back end 502. Such avacuum may be applied, for example, near back end 502 via outlet 522;according to some embodiments of the present invention, such a vacuumbetween liner 110 and pipe 100 may be applied in addition to or insteadof an applied vacuum within liner 110.

Various grouts and/or cementitious mixtures may be employed to bond theliner 110 with the pipe 100, according to embodiments of the presentinvention. According to some embodiments of the present invention, agrout manufactured by BASF and produced for Mainsaver/Water WorldHoldings may be used, such grout being a specially formulated cementbased grout whose properties include but are not limited to: zero bleed,extended working time under a wide range of temperature conditions,integral anodic corrosion inhibitor, consistency of product formulationand mix, excellent wetting ability and non-absorbency, good contactangle when distributing grout, cohesiveness, non-shrink (there may be anexpansion of 0.10% on the dry product, in some cases for example),optimum rheology and surface tension properties, and no surface laitanceproduced, according to embodiments of the present invention.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, this cementgrout is specially formulated for pumpability, working time, corrosionprotection, stable volume, absence of bleed, lack of shrinkage, andconsistent mix and cured properties. According to some embodiments ofthe present invention, the grout mortar mix includes one hundred partscement and twenty-eight parts water. Based on the disclosure providedherein, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate the varyingcement-to-water ratios that may be used to produce optimum and/oradequate cement grout mixtures, depending on the type of grout used andother factors. The amount of grout to be injected may be approximated bydetermining the volume between the outer surface 404 of a fully-expandedliner 110 and the inner surface 103 of pipe. Then the result may bemultiplied by a safety factor, such as 2.0 or 1.3, because adding toomuch grout may be less expensive than not adding enough grout and havingto redo the installation, according to embodiments of the presentinvention.

Once a vacuum has been applied to inside of liner 110, liner 110 retainsa somewhat open configuration as it extends from around tubular neck107, then sections of liner 110 further from liner clamp 106 taper downand into a V-shape configuration, as depicted in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 depictsliner 110 in a V-shape or U-shape configuration, as a cross sectiontaken along line A-A of FIG. 1. Injecting the grout too close to tubularneck 107 and/or liner clamp 106 may result in the grout flowing aroundliner 110 and to the sides and bottom of pipe 100. Therefore, a groutinjection manifold 102 may be used which is long enough to permitinjection of grout through grout injection port 114 over a section ofliner 110 which is sufficiently trough-shaped to retain adequatecoverage of grout over the top of liner 110 as the grout is deployedinto pipe 100. In addition to an overhead grout injection port 114,additional grout injection ports may be used. For example, an additionalgrout injection port may be formed within grout injection manifold 102directly below grout injection port 114, in order to inject groutbeneath liner 110, according to embodiments of the present invention.According to embodiments of the present invention, approximately seventypercent of the grout is pumped into the trough-shaped portion of liner110, and approximately thirty percent of the grout is pumped through agrout injection manifold below the liner 110.

Once a sufficient amount of grout has been injected into pipe 100, thevacuum may be removed from inlet 210, and a swab 504 may be placed intolaunch chamber 206. Next, air pressure may be applied to inlet 210 topush swab 504 through swab launcher 108 and along the length of liner110 from front end 101 to back end 502, as described above. This willcause liner 110 and the grout around liner 110 to assume theconfiguration depicted in FIG. 4, a cross section taken along line A-Aof FIG. 1 after deployment of swab 504 through liner 110.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, swab 504 may bewrapped tightly by plastic, and the plastic may have holes and/or slitsformed therein. FIG. 18 depicts a swab 1802 wrapped in plastic 1806 withslits 1808 and a tail 1804, the tail 1804 formed by twisting the plastic1806, folding the plastic 1806 back onto itself, and taping it in aloop, according to embodiments of the present invention. Wrapping theswab 1802 in plastic 1806 and forming slits 1808 may permit the “puffingup” of the plastic 1806 surrounding the swab 504, 1802 when fluidpressure is applied to one end of swab 504, 1802 which in turn maypermit more effective grout smoothing and/or distribution, and/or betterengagement of swab 504, 1802 outer diameter 506 with inside 402 of liner110.

FIG. 19 depicts a foam swab 1901. Swab 1901 may be flexible andbidirectional, according to embodiments of the present invention. Swab1901 may be constructed with two pound polyurethane foam (with orwithout nose), and one end of swab 1901 may be coated with resin to forman impermeable seal, for more effective use of compressed air totransport the swab 1901, according to embodiments of the presentinvention. Swab has a length 1902 and a diameter 1904 which may varydepending on the diameter of the pipe 100 being rehabilitated. Forexample, for a rehabilitated pipe of 100 mm diameter, the length 1902may be 300 mm and the diameter 1904 may be 140 mm; for a rehabilitatedpipe of 150 mm diameter, the length 1902 may be 400 mm and the diameter1904 may be 190 mm; for a rehabilitated pipe of 200 mm diameter, thelength 1902 may be 500 mm and the diameter 1904 may be 240 mm; for arehabilitated pipe of 225 mm diameter, the length 1902 may be 600 mm andthe diameter 1904 may be 265 mm; for a rehabilitated pipe of 250 mmdiameter, the length 1902 may be 625 mm and the diameter 1904 may be 310mm; and for a rehabilitated pipe of 300 mm diameter, the length 1902 maybe 750 mm and the diameter 1904 may be 325 mm, according to embodimentsof the present invention.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, the swab 1802(FIG. 18) may be formed by starting with an appropriately-sized piece offoam as depicted in FIG. 19, then piercing the foam axially through thecenter with a piece of rebar. The rebar may be left in place, and alength of 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm linear low density polyethylene (“LLDPE”)tube is taped to the rebar and then pulled through the center of swab1802 with the rebar. The LLDPE tube is then cuffed back to completelycover the swab, and the excess plastic is twisted into a tail 1804,wrapped in tape, and turned back onto itself to form an eyelet,according to embodiments of the present invention. Tail 1804 and theeyelet formed therein may be used for tying or otherwise attachingthings to swab 1802; for example, the foot meter line may be tied ontothe tail 1804 for monitoring the longitudinal position of swab 1802within pipe 100.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, multiple swabs504 may be deployed through liner 110 after deployment of grout throughpipe 100. According to such embodiments, the multiple swabs 504 serve to“massage” the grout between the liner 110 and pipe 100, therebypromoting more effective grout coverage and lining. According to someembodiments of the present invention, successive swabs 504 are used withsuccessively increasing and/or decreasing diameters to interact withliner 110 and the associated grout in customized ways.

FIGS. 15 and 26 depict additional hardware that may be used to launchmultiple successive swabs 504, or to launch the same swab 504 multipletimes. For example, the catcher bin 2600 of FIG. 26 may be coupled withliner clamp 106 near back end 502 instead of end plate 524, and may beconfigured to catch the swab 504 as it is ejected from the end of liner110 near back end 502. The back plate 2602 stops the swab 504 as it isejected from the ejection hole 2604 in the front wall of the catcher bin2600. The launch box 1502 of FIG. 15 may be coupled with swab launcher108 in lieu of end plate 208. Such a launch box 1502 may permit the swab504 to be inserted therein through a door 1504 which hinges about hingepoint 1506, for example, which closes and/or is held shut by airpressure (or vacuum pressure), such that the door closes easily whilemaintaining the appropriate pressure inside of the launch box 1502 andthus the swab launcher 108. Such a launch box 1502 may permit fast andeasy successive launches of swab 504, for example. Alternatively, thehinged (and optionally hermetically sealable) door 1504 may permit easyinsertion of swab 504 through an insertion opening 1508 into the launchbox 1502 and thus the swab launcher 108, according to embodiments of thepresent invention. The door 1504 may be biased in a direction indicatedby arrow 1512, such that door 1504 closes itself; for example, suchbiasing may be achieved by a spring. Launch box 1502 may also includeone or more apertures 1510 for inserting compressed air and/or cords forelectrical/camera equipment, according to embodiments of the presentinvention.

Embodiments of the present invention have successfully been used withsections of pipe 100 up to approximately one hundred meters long;however, it is contemplated that longer sections of pipe 100 may berehabilitated according to embodiments of the present invention.According to such embodiments, an intermediate grout port may be used atintervals along a pipe 100, to inject grout at each interval, in orderto help ensure adequate and homogenous grout coverage. Based on thedisclosure provided herein, one of ordinary skill in the art willrecognize that various intermediate grout injection port intervals maybe used depending upon the type of grout used, the diameter and innersurface 103 structure of the pipe 100, the outer surface 104 structureof liner 110, and other factors which determine grout coverage betweenliner 110 and pipe 100.

One potential reason for the use of intermediate grout ports may be themaintenance of adequate back pressure to ensure uniform groutdistribution and coverage, according to embodiments of the presentinvention. According to alternative embodiments of the presentinvention, longer sections of pipe 100 may be grouted and lined by usinga back pressure device which is pushed directly in front of swab 504 asswab 504 advances from front end 101 to back end 502. FIG. 16illustrates an alternative back-pressure device 1606, according toembodiments of the present invention. Back pressure device 1606 is aswab 1606 through which a core hole 1608 is formed. The liner 110 is fedthrough the core hole 1608. As swab 504 is advanced forward in thedirection of arrow 1602 by the application of compressed air into thespace 1604 behind swab 504, swab 504 pushes against liner 110 and thusagainst swab 1606. According to some embodiments of the presentinvention, grout is present between liner 110 and back pressure swab1606, such that a distance between back pressure swab 1606 and swab 504as they advance forward in the pipe 100 may depend on the amount ofgrout between liner 110 and back pressure swab 1606. Use of backpressure swab 1606 encourages more uniform distribution of grout bymaintaining a back pressure within the grout coverage area between liner110 and pipe 100, and also prevents or hinders the introduction of airinto the grout pocket between the liner 110 and pipe 100, according toembodiments of the present invention.

Once the swab 504 has been run through liner 110, it may be desirable toinspect the degree and adequacy of grout coverage between liner 110 andpipe 100. According to some embodiments of the present invention, liner110 is not transparent, and so using a traditional visual inspectioncamera would not be effective for detecting unwanted air pockets and/orareas of insufficient grout coverage or gaps between liner 110 and pipe100. However, due to the fact that undesired grout coverage gaps absorbheat at a different rate than the areas between liner 110 and pipe 100with full grout coverage, a heat source may be applied to the inside ofliner 110, and an infrared camera may be used to detect differences inabsorbed heat along the liner 110. Detecting such differences inabsorbed heat and/or infrared emissions will identify which areas ofliner 110, if any, lack sufficient grout coverage between liner 110 andpipe 100.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, an Aries PE4000“ThermaView IR” multi-conductor, pan and tilt radial view, color and IRsewer TV camera may be used for liner 110 inspection. According toembodiments of the present invention, the infrared camera used is athermal imaging system operable to form an image using long wavelengthinfrared waves emitted by any object with a temperature above absolutezero. Such a passive imaging system requires no external light to forman image. Thermography or remote thermal sensing according toembodiments of the present invention is a non-contact and non-intrusivetemperature differential measurement technique; high resolution imagescontaining tens of thousands of different temperature measurements maybe rendered to detect even minute temperature differences and thusdetect unsatisfactory grout distribution. Although the color visualspectrum camera may not be able to detect defects in grout coverage, itmay optionally be used to detect other visually-observable defects, suchas tears in the liner 110 or non-conformance of the liner 110 to theinner diameter of pipe 100, for example. In order to create the heatsource within liner 110 to permit the inspection with an infraredcamera, various methods may be used.

For example, according to some embodiments of the present invention,ambient air may be pumped through liner 110, the ambient air beingwarmer than liner 110 and pipe 100 and thus conveying heat through liner110. According to other embodiments of the present invention, a spaceheater or similar device may be used to heat ambient air at one end ofpipe 100 before the air is blown through liner 110. According to yetother embodiments, compressed air may be blown through liner 110; due toits higher pressure, compressed air may also serve to heat liner 110.According to yet other embodiments of the present invention, a heatingcoil may be deployed through liner 110 to heat liner 110; for example,such a heating coil or heating element may be placed on or near to theinfrared camera, described above. According to yet other embodiments ofthe present invention, a light bulb (another form of heating element)may be used to heat liner 110. After heating of liner 110, the infraredcamera may be deployed through liner 110 to detect, in 360 degreesaccording to some embodiments, any heat differentials which indicate adefect in grout coverage, along with the shape and location of any suchdefects.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, a heat sourcemay be used which is mounted on or near the infrared camera itself. Forexample, according to some embodiments of the present invention, ahigh-intensity light source may be coupled with the back end of theinfrared camera. The camera may then be run within the length of pipe100 to perform a visual inspection using a traditional visual spectrumportion of the camera, while at the same time heating the pipe using theback-mounted high-intensity light source. Such a visual inspection mayinvolve the camera moving through pipe 100 at a speed of approximatelyone half feet per second, for example. Then, once the camera has run thelength of pipe 100, the high-intensity light source may be switched off,and the camera may be backed up through the length of pipe 100, usingthe infrared portion of the camera to inspect for defects in groutcoverage. Performing the heating steps and the infrared detection stepsduring different runs of the camera through pipe 100 may minimize thechance that the infrared camera picks up heat signals from thehigh-intensity light itself, rather than from the grout and non-groutareas between liner 110 and pipe 100. Such a procedure also permits thefull visual and infrared inspection process to be conducted with asimple “there-and-back” process.

According to some alternative embodiments of the present invention, thecamera may be run from one end of the pipe 100 to another with the heatsource turned off for an optional visual inspection, then the heatsource may be turned on and the infrared camera, which is pointed awayfrom, or in an opposite direction from, the heat source (such as ahigh-intensity light source), may be used to inspect for grout coverageduring the return trip of the camera. According to some embodiments ofthe present invention, the infrared inspection occurs during the firsttrip of the camera along the length of the pipe 100 and the visualinspection occurs on the return trip. According to other embodiments ofthe present invention, a visual inspection and/or an infrared inspectionis made during the entire there-and-back trip of the camera along pipe100, and according to some embodiments, no visual inspection is madewith the camera but only an infrared inspection.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, such aninspection of liner 110 may occur immediately after or within a shorttime after deployment of swab 504 through liner 110, in order to fix anygrout defects before curing of the grout. Such a fix may be accomplishedby, for example, pumping more grout between liner 110 and pipe 100 andre-deploying swab 504 through liner 110 and/or removing liner 110 andgrout and restarting the installation process. According to someembodiments of the present invention, a grout may be used which exhibitsexothermic or other heat-related properties which would permit theimmediate detection of abnormalities or defects of grout coverage priorto the curing of the grout, and without application of an external heatsource. According to other embodiments of the present invention, anultrasound-based camera may be employed instead of or in addition to aninfrared-based camera.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, a heat transferis created across liner 110 by cooling the inside of liner 110 ratherthan heating it. This alternative may further take advantage of thegrout coverage inspection system of FIGS. 12-14, by permitting the swab1202 to be deployed from front end 101 to back end 502 to distribute thegrout while at the same time propelling the swab 1202 with chilledcompressed air to cool the liner 110, while at the same time using theswab 1202 to tow a camera frame 1212 including an infrared camera 1308to inspect grout coverage during swab 1202 deployment. Such a method ofconcurrent swab 1202 deployment and grout inspection permits immediatefeedback even before the grout has hardened, and permits theinstallation to be redone and/or repaired if necessary, according toembodiments of the present invention.

FIGS. 12-14 illustrate a concurrent grout distribution/grout coverageinspection system according to embodiments of the present invention. Aswab 1202 is wrapped in plastic and the tail 1204 is attached to aharness 1210 by swivel clips 1206. The harness 1210 and swivel clips1206 couple the camera frame 1212 (which has two or more wheels) withthe swab 1202. A coaxial cable, such as an RG58U coaxial cable, connectsto the input/output module 1310 on the camera frame 1212 at coaxialcable connector 1314. A power switch 1312 turns the unit on and off.Also mounted to the camera frame 1212 are infrared camera 1308 having aprotective lens cap 1304, as well as one or more protective roll bars1306 to protect the electronic components should the camera frame 1212become overturned. Infrared camera 1308 according to embodiments of thepresent invention may be an infrared camera available from Flir Systems,Inc., for example. Swivel clips 1206 permit the swab 1202 to twistslightly without overturning the camera frame 1212. A power connector1302 and battery pack (not shown) may also be mounted on the cameraframe 1212. A low-loss air fitting 1214 may be affixed to the end plate208 or other fitting through which the coaxial cable 1208 enters thepressurized zone; low-loss air fitting 1214 permits cable 1208, whichconnects the electronics of the camera cart 1212 to external monitoringand/or closed-circuit television equipment, to be advanced and retractedwithout causing significant pressure loss for propulsion of swab 1202,according to embodiments of the present invention. According to someembodiments of the present invention, low-loss air fitting 1214 is aone-half inch brass pipe plug which is through-drilled and chamfered andthreadably connected with end plate 208 or other air manifold. Accordingto some embodiments of the present invention, a footage meter line isalso attached to camera frame 1212 and/or swab 1202.

The infrared camera transport cart 1212 consists of a rectangularaluminum frame with axles and wheels mounted to it; axle length andwheel diameter can be changed to suit various size pipe 100 diameters. Aplatform on the frame supports the camera 1308, power supply (e.g.batteries), input/output module 1310, and cables, according toembodiments of the present invention. The tow harness 1210 extends fromthe frame 1212 to the tail 1204 of the swab 1202; the coaxial cable 1208may be looped through the tail 1204 and routed back to the cableconnection 1314 on the input/output module 1310, according toembodiments of the present invention.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, compressed airis routed through a heat exchanger to drop the temperature totwenty-five to thirty degrees below ambient temperature. Chilled air maythen be introduced into the liner 110 (e.g. via inlet manifold 210),forcing or otherwise advancing the swab 1202 through the liner 110. Asthe swab 1202 travels from the front end 101 to toward the back end 502through the liner 110, it pulls the transport cart 1212 and rear-facinginfrared camera 1308. The chilled air cools the thin liner 110 exceptwhere liner 110 is in contact with the relatively warmer grout. Wherethe liner 110 is not in contact with the grout, the infrared camera 1308can detect the temperature differential between the cool bare liner 110and the liner 110 which is in contact with the grout, thereby indicatingthe presence of voids or gaps between the liner 110 and host pipeline100, according to embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 25illustrates an exemplary image produced by infrared camera 1308, showingthe front opening 2504, the inside 2502 of the liner 110, as well as aspot 2506 of inadequate grout coverage, which shows up in a differentshade or color, according to embodiments of the present invention.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, the camera cart1212 may be releasably coupled with the swab 1202 at the clips 1206and/or the harness 1210. According to such embodiments, an operator mayobserve the inside of liner 110 as camera 1308 is transported from frontend 101 to back end 502 with swab 1202, then may send a release signalto cause the camera cart 1212 to be released from the swab 1202 toreturn through liner 110 to perform additional inspections, all withoutcompromising the internal pressurization of liner 110, according toembodiments of the present invention.

According to yet other embodiments of the present invention, a directattachment of the camera 1308 to the swab 1202 may be achieved byinserting the camera 1308 into the back of the swab 1202 by means ofcreating a pocket in the swab 1202 or creating an attachable holder.Such a method would eliminate the use of a wheeled cart or skid towedbehind the swab 1202, according to embodiments of the present invention.It may also minimize any contact between the camera 1308 and soft grout,thereby deterring formation of unwanted tracks or deformation in thegrout prior to cure.

FIG. 8 depicts a flow diagram 800 illustrating a method for pipelinerehabilitation, according to embodiments of the present invention. Aninside of the pipe 100 may be swabbed to clean the inside or removedebris, and a guide rope may be deployed within the length of pipe 100(block 802). Using the guide rope, the liner 110 may be deployed withinthe length of pipe by, for example, tying the guide rope to one end ofthe liner 110 and pulling the liner 110 through the pipe 100 (block804). As liner 110 is deployed within the pipe 100, liner 110 may befolded by a folding device such as, for example, the folding devicesdepicted in FIGS. 22 and 23. The twisting of liner 110 should be avoidedas it travels through pipe 100, and liner 110 should be inspected nearback end 502 for any damage. The liner 110 may also be held closed nearback end 502 and inflated with compressed air to confirm tube integrity,according to embodiments of the present invention. Liner clamps 106 maybe coupled to the liner 110, and a tensioning device 600 installed atthe back end 502 (block 806).

A swab 504 may be deployed through the liner 110 by, for example,injecting compressed air behind swab 504, to straighten liner 110 and/orremove any twists (block 808). A vacuum or partial vacuum may be appliedto the liner 110 to restore and/or encourage the liner 110 to assume asubstantially trough-shaped cross section (block 810). When the liner110 has assumed a trough-shape, grout may be injected between the liner110 and the pipe 100 (block 812). The swab 504 may again be deployedthrough liner 110 from front end 101 toward back end 502 to round theliner 110 and evenly distribute the grout between liner 110 and pipe 100(block 814). Finally, grout coverage may be inspected for defects usingan infrared camera as described above, either before or after the grouthardens (block 816). Air pressure may be maintained within the liner 110until the cement hydrates, which, according to some embodiments of thepresent invention, occurs after approximately sixteen hours. Once thecement mortar (e.g. grout) has hardened, the liner 110 becomesself-supporting, according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 9 depicts a flow diagram 900 illustrating another method forpipeline rehabilitation, according to embodiments of the presentinvention. An inside of the pipe 100 may be swabbed to clean the insideor remove debris, and a guide rope may be deployed within the length ofpipe 100 (block 9802). Using the guide rope, the liner 110 may bedeployed within the length of pipe by, for example, tying the guide ropeto one end of the liner 110 and pulling the liner 110 through the pipe100 (block 904). As liner 110 is deployed within the pipe 100, liner 110may be folded by a folding device such as, for example, the foldingdevices depicted in FIGS. 22 and 23. Liner clamps 106 may be coupled tothe liner 110, and a tensioning device 600 installed at the back end 502(block 906).

A swab 504 may be deployed through the liner 110 by, for example,injecting compressed air behind swab 504, to straighten liner 110 and/orremove any twists (block 908). A back pressure swab 1606 may be insertedinto the front end 101 of the pipe 100 (block 910), and the liner 110may be fed or otherwise placed through hole 1608 in back pressure swab1606 (block 912), according to embodiments of the present invention.Optionally, a vacuum or partial vacuum may be applied to the liner 110to restore and/or encourage the liner 110 to assume a substantiallytrough-shaped cross section. Grout may be injected between the liner 110and the pipe 100 (block 914). The swab 504 may again be deployed throughliner 110 from front end 101 toward back end 502 to round the liner 110and evenly distribute the grout between liner 110 and pipe 100, and alsoto advance the back pressure swab 1606 ahead of swab 504 to maintainback pressure between liner 110 and pipe 100 to ensure more even groutcoverage (block 916). Finally, grout coverage may be inspected fordefects using an infrared camera as described above, either before orafter the grout hardens (block 918).

FIG. 10 depicts a flow chart 1000 illustrating a method for pipelineinstallation grout coverage inspection, according to embodiments of thepresent invention. A liner 110 is installed within a pipeline 100 withgrout between the liner 110 and pipeline 100 (block 1002). A heattransfer is created across the liner (block 1004), which, as describedabove, may be accomplished by heating or cooling the inside of the liner110, according to embodiments of the present invention. The liner 110may be observed from the inside with an infrared camera 1308 to detectgrout coverage by detecting a temperature differential between the areasof liner 110 in contact with the grout and the areas of liner 110 not incontact with the grout (block 1006), because the heat transfer acrossthe liner 110 occurs differently for areas of liner 110 in contact withthe grout and areas of liner 110 not in contact with the grout,according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 11 depicts a flow chart 1100 illustrating a method for simultaneousswab 1202 advancement/grout smoothing and grout coverage inspection,according to embodiments of the present invention. A liner 110 isinstalled within a pipeline 100 with grout between the liner 110 andpipeline 100 (block 1102). An infrared camera 1308 is mounted on acamera frame 1212 (block 1104), and the camera frame 1212 is coupled toa swab 1202 (block 1106). Compressed air is chilled and the chilledcompressed air is injected into liner 110 behind swab 1202 tosimultaneously advance the swab 1202 through liner 110 and cool theliner 110 (block 1108). As the swab 1202 pulls the infrared camera 1308through liner 110, camera 1308 observes liner 110 from the inside todetect grout coverage by detecting a temperature differential betweenthe areas of liner 110 in contact with the grout and the areas of liner110 not in contact with the grout (block 1110), according to embodimentsof the present invention. Based on the disclosure provided herein, oneof ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various steps may beperformed in different orders, and that less than or more than all ofthe described steps may be used in a particular method, according toembodiments of the present invention.

Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplaryembodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the presentinvention. For example, while the embodiments described above refer toparticular features, the scope of this invention also includesembodiments having different combinations of features and embodimentsthat do not include all of the described features. Accordingly, thescope of the present invention is intended to embrace all suchalternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the scope ofthe claims, together with all equivalents thereof.

1. A method for transporting a swab through a pipeline, the methodcomprising: coupling a swab launcher to a pipeline, the swab launcherhaving a launch chamber with a first inner diameter large enough toreceive a swab when the swab is substantially uncompressed and anarrowing portion configured to compress the swab to fit within thepipeline; inserting the swab into the launch chamber; pressurizing thelaunch chamber with a compressed fluid behind the swab; and advancingthe swab with the compressed fluid through the narrowing portion andinto the pipeline.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:inserting a tubular liner along an inside of the pipeline, whereinadvancing the swab into the pipeline comprises advancing the swab intothe tubular liner in the pipeline.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein theswab is a first swab, and wherein advancing the first swab into thepipeline comprises advancing the first swab into a first end of thepipeline, the method further comprising: inserting a second swab into asecond end of the pipeline, the second swab comprising an axialaperture.
 4. The method of claim 2, further comprising: visuallyindicating when the first swab has traveled from the first end to thesecond end of the pipeline.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein visuallyindicating when the first swab has traveled from the first end to thesecond end of the pipeline comprises placing a stick through the axialaperture such that the first swab displaces the stick as the first swabapproaches the second swab.
 6. A swab launcher comprising: a pipelineend configured for coupling to a pipeline; an insertion end configuredto receive a swab; a launch chamber at the insertion end, the launchchamber having a first inner diameter large enough to receive the swabwhen the swab is substantially uncompressed; and a narrowing portionbetween the launch chamber and the pipeline end, the narrowing portionhaving a second inner diameter decreasing between the launch chamber andthe pipeline end, the second inner diameter at the launch chambersubstantially the same as the first inner diameter and the second innerdiameter at the pipeline end substantially the same as a third innerdiameter of the pipeline, the first inner diameter is larger than thethird inner diameter.
 7. The swab launcher of claim 6, wherein thesecond inner diameter decreases between the launch chamber and thepipeline end in a substantially linear fashion.
 8. The swab launcher ofclaim 6, further comprising: an end plate operable to cover andhermetically seal with the insertion end; and a compressed fluid inletformed in the end plate.
 9. The swab launcher of claim 6, wherein thelaunch chamber and the narrowing portion are formed integrally of acontinuous piece of metal.
 10. The swab launcher of claim 6, wherein thelaunch chamber is approximately twice as long as the narrowing portion.11. The swab launcher of claim 6, wherein the first inner diameter isapproximately twenty-five millimeters larger than the third innerdiameter.
 12. A system for swab transport, comprising: a swabconstructed substantially of foam, the swab configured to apply a radialpressure to a pipeline when the swab is compressed within the pipeline;and a swab launcher having a pipeline end configured for coupling to thepipeline, an insertion end configured to receive the swab, a launchchamber at the insertion end, the launch chamber having a first innerdiameter large enough to receive the swab when the swab is substantiallyuncompressed, and a narrowing portion having a second inner diameterdecreasing between the launch chamber and the pipeline end, the secondinner diameter at the launch chamber substantially the same as the firstinner diameter and the second inner diameter at the pipeline endsubstantially the same as a third inner diameter of the pipeline, thefirst inner diameter is larger than the third inner diameter.
 13. Thesystem of claim 12, further comprising: an end plate operable to coverand hermetically seal with the insertion end, wherein a compressed fluidinlet is formed in the end plate.
 14. The system of claim 12, furthercomprising: a swab catcher coupled to the pipeline, the swab catcherhaving a back wall operable to halt the swab as the swab exits thepipeline and a removal aperture for removal of the swab from the swabcatcher.
 15. The system of claim 12, further comprising: a launch boxcoupled with the swab launcher, the launch box comprising: an insertionchamber large enough to enclose the swab when the swab is substantiallyuncompressed, an insertion opening through which the swab is insertedinto the insertion chamber, and a door movable between an open positionpermitting insertion of the swab into the insertion chamber and a closedposition in which the door substantially hermetically seals theinsertion opening.
 16. The system of claim 15, wherein the door opensinwardly into the insertion chamber and is biased in the closedposition.
 17. The system of claim 15, wherein the door opens inwardlyinto the insertion chamber, and wherein pressurizing the insertionchamber substantially maintains the door in the closed position when thedoor is closed.
 18. The system of claim 12, wherein the launch chamberfurther comprises: an insertion opening configured to receive the swabinto the launch chamber, and a door movable between an open positionpermitting insertion of the swab through the insertion opening into thelaunch chamber and a closed position in which the door substantiallyhermetically seals the insertion opening.
 19. The system of claim 18,wherein the door opens inwardly into the launch chamber and is biased inthe closed position.
 20. The system of claim 18, wherein the door opensinwardly into the launch chamber, and wherein pressurizing the launchchamber substantially maintains the door in the closed position when thedoor is closed.